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Édouard Mendy

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Édouard Mendy
Mendy lifting the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea
Personal information
Full name Édouard Osoque Mendy
Date of birth (1992-03-01) 1 March 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Montivilliers, France
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Al-Ahli
Number 16
Youth career
1999–2005 Le Havre Caucriauville
2005–2006 Le Havre
2006–2011 CS Municipaux Le Havre
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Cherbourg 26 (0)
2015–2016 Marseille II 8 (0)
2016–2019 Reims 80 (0)
2019–2020 Rennes 25 (0)
2020–2023 Chelsea 75 (0)
2023– Al-Ahli 42 (0)
International career‡
2018– Senegal 42 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Senegal
Africa Cup of Nations
Winner 2021 Cameroon
Runner-up 2019 Egypt
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:15, 7 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:59, 19 November 2024 (UTC)

Édouard Osoque Mendy (born 1 March 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli. Born in France, he plays for the Senegal national team.

Starting his career in his native France, Mendy played in the Le Havre academy before signing professional terms with third division Cherbourg in 2011. Mendy was released in 2014, after which he almost quit football, before getting an opportunity with Marseille's reserves. He established himself as regular in the following seasons at Reims and Rennes.

In 2020, Mendy signed for Premier League club Chelsea for a reported fee of £22 million. In his first season, he immediately broke into the starting line-up, becoming the first African goalkeeper to play for the club's senior team, and kept sixteen clean sheets in the Premier League. Mendy also equalled the record for the most clean sheets in a UEFA Champions League season with nine, and kept another clean sheet in the final to help Chelsea win their second title. He was also awarded both the UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year and The Best FIFA Goalkeeper of 2021, becoming the first African goalkeeper in football's history to win both awards. He would continue as the first choice keeper in the 2021–22 season, before subsequently falling out of favour during 2022–23. In 2023, Mendy signed for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli for a fee of around £16 million.

Eligible to play for Guinea-Bissau and Senegal through descent and France through birth, Mendy initially joined Guinea-Bissau in honour of his father. However, he subsequently switched allegiance to Senegal, where he became the first-choice goalkeeper for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, helping Senegal to a runners-up finish. He helped his nation win the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, while also being named the tournament's best goalkeeper, keeping a clean sheet in the final.

Early life

[edit]

Édouard Osoque Mendy[2] was born on 1 March 1992[3] in Montivilliers, Seine-Maritime in France,[4] to a Senegalese mother and a Bissau-Guinean father.[5] He holds both French and Senegalese nationalities.[6] He is a cousin of fellow footballer Ferland Mendy.[7]

Club career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Mendy joined the youth academy of Le Havre AC at the age of 13.[8] After being stuck behind Zacharie Boucher in the talent pool, Mendy dropped down levels to play with CS Municipaux Le Havre.[8] He started his professional career at AS Cherbourg, who were then in the Championnat National, the third tier of the French football league system. He stayed in Cherbourg until the summer of 2014, after which he was without a club for a year.[9] "I did genuinely have my doubts about whether I would carry on," Mendy said in a later interview.[10] At the age of 22, Mendy registered for unemployment and began to look for jobs outside of football.[10] However, in 2015, Mendy was recommended to fill a goalkeeping vacancy at Marseille by friend and former teammate Ted Lavie. After one phone call with the academy goalkeeping coach, Dominique Bernatowicz, Marseille signed Mendy as their fourth choice goalkeeper.[11] He played the 2015–16 season in Marseille's reserve team, primarily as a backup to Florian Escales.[8]

Reims

[edit]

In search of regular playing time, Mendy joined Reims during the 2016–17 Ligue 2 season.[8] On the opening day of the season, Mendy made his debut when Reims' starting goalkeeper Johann Carrasso was sent off five minutes into the match against Amiens. Mendy went on to keep three clean sheets over his next seven games.[8] The next season, Mendy cemented his role as the starting goalkeeper on a team for the first time, as he helped Reims win the 2017–18 Ligue 2 title as they were promoted to Ligue 1 for the following season.[8] Mendy kept 18 clean sheets in his 34 appearances over the course of the season.[12] In the 2018–19 season, Mendy played in all 38 Ligue 1 games, as newly promoted Reims soared to an eighth-place finish. Mendy kept fourteen clean sheets, the third highest of any goalkeeper in the league.[13]

Rennes

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Mendy joined Rennes in August 2019 for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be in the region of €4 million, replacing departing goalkeeper Tomáš Koubek.[14][15] Mendy made his debut on Matchday 3 against Strasbourg after recovering from a broken finger. He saved a penalty to preserve a clean sheet as Rennes won 2–0 at the Stade de la Meinau.[8] Mendy went on to keep nine clean sheets in 24 league matches for Rennes in a season that was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, helping them to a third-place finish and qualification for the UEFA Champions League.[13]

Chelsea

[edit]

2020–21 season

[edit]
Mendy playing for Chelsea in 2021

English club Chelsea signed Mendy on a five-year contract in September 2020, for a fee reported to be £22 million.[16][17] On 29 September, Mendy made his debut for the club against Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the EFL Cup, which Chelsea lost 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.[18] Mendy made his Premier League debut on 3 October, keeping a clean sheet in Chelsea's 4–0 victory over Crystal Palace, becoming the first African goalkeeper to play in the division since Carl Ikeme in 2012.[19][20]

His clean sheet against Burnley on 31 October made him the first Chelsea goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in their first three Premier League matches since Petr Čech in 2004.[21] With a clean sheet in the club's next match, a 3–0 win against Mendy's former club Rennes in the Champions League, Chelsea recorded five consecutive clean sheets for the first time in a decade.[22]

On 8 May 2021, Mendy saved a panenka style penalty-kick from Sergio Agüero as Chelsea came from 0–1 down to defeat Manchester City 2–1.[23] Three weeks later on 29 May, Mendy became the first African goalkeeper to play in a final of the UEFA Champions League since Bruce Grobbelaar, who appeared in the 1985 European Cup final. Chelsea defeated Manchester City 1–0 in the final.[24] He also equaled the record of most clean sheets in a Champions League season, by keeping nine clean sheets, the same as Santiago Cañizares in 2000–01 and Keylor Navas in 2015–16.[25]

2021–22 season

[edit]

Mendy started the UEFA Super Cup tie against Villarreal, making important saves in the tie that went to extra time. He was replaced by Kepa Arrizabalaga for the penalty shoot-out, which Chelsea went on to win for a second Super Cup title.[26]

Mendy finished second in the Yashin Award to Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who saved two penalties in the UEFA Euro 2020 final.[27] Mendy did, however, win the FIFA Best Goalkeeper award.[28]

In February 2022, after winning the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, Mendy returned from international duty to take part in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup, starting in the final as he won a second trophy in two weeks.[29]

Al Ahli

[edit]

Mendy signed for Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli on 28 June 2023 on a three-year contract, for a fee reported in the British media to be around £16 million.[30]

International career

[edit]
Mendy lining up for Senegal in 2022

In November 2016, Mendy was called up by Guinea-Bissau to play friendly matches against Portuguese clubs Belenenses and Estoril.[31] At the time, his father was very ill and was about to pass away, leading Mendy to honour him playing for the Guinea-Bissau national team.[32] Shortly after, he was shortlisted by Guinea-Bissau to play the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations for them,[33] but he ultimately rejected the call and pledged his future to Senegal.[32]

Mendy made his debut for Senegal in a 1–0 win over Equatorial Guinea on 18 November 2018.[34] Mendy went on to become Senegal's first choice goalkeeper leading up to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. He started in both Senegal's opening two group stage matches, a 2–0 win over Tanzania and a 1–0 defeat to Algeria. However, he was injured during the warmups before Senegal's final group stage match against Kenya, and was forced to withdraw from the squad with a broken finger as Senegal would go on to lose in the final 1–0 to Algeria.[35]

In January 2022, Mendy was included in Senegal's squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.[36] In his first game at the competition, on 10 January against Zimbabwe, he kept a clean sheet in a 1–0 win for Senegal. After the group stages, Mendy helped his nation to progress into the final.[37] At the final on 6 February, against Egypt at Olembe Stadium, following a goalless draw after extra-time, Mendy saved a spot kick from Mohanad Lasheen and another hit the post during the penalty shootout to win the tournament for Senegal for the first time.[38] For his performances throughout the competition, including keeping four clean sheets, he was named the tournament's best goalkeeper.[39]

Mendy represented Senegal at the 2022 FIFA World Cup as the nation reached the round of 16 for the first time since its debut in 2002.[40]

In December 2023, Mendy was named in Senegal's squad for the postponed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in the Ivory Coast.[41]

Style of play

[edit]

Mendy has been described as a physically dominant goalkeeper who exerts a strong influence in the defensive third.[13] In the 2019–20 season with Rennes, Mendy recorded a 75.3% save success rate, the highest in Ligue 1, averaging 2.5 saves per game. In the same season, Mendy completed 51.4% of his passes over 40 yards, the same as Ederson, who is highly regarded for his kicking ability.[42] Mendy is an aerially assertive goalkeeper, frequently coming off his line to claim crosses. He is also very vocal, often organizing his defenders' positioning.[13][43] Upon his arrival at Chelsea, former manager Frank Lampard praised his positive attitude and work ethic.[44]

He was appointed a Grand Officer of the National Order of the Lion by President of Senegal Macky Sall following the nation's victory at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.[45]

Career statistics

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Club

[edit]
As of match played 7 December 2024[46]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cherbourg 2011–12[47] Championnat National 5 0 — — — 5 0
2012–13[47] 3 0 — — — 3 0
2013–14[47] CFA 18 0 — — — 18 0
Total 26 0 — — — 26 0
Marseille II 2015–16[47] CFA 8 0 — — — — 8 0
Reims 2016–17[47] Ligue 2 8 0 2 0 1 0 — — 11 0
2017–18[47] 34 0 0 0 0 0 — — 34 0
2018–19[47] Ligue 1 38 0 2 0 1 0 — — 41 0
Total 80 0 4 0 2 0 — — 86 0
Reims II 2016–17[47] CFA 1 0 — — — — 1 0
Rennes 2019–20[47] Ligue 1 24 0 5 0 0 0 4[c] 0 — 33 0
2020–21[47] 1 0 — — — — 1 0
Total 25 0 5 0 0 0 4 0 — 34 0
Chelsea 2020–21[48] Premier League 31 0 0 0 1 0 12[d] 0 — 44 0
2021–22[49] 34 0 3 0 1 0 9[d] 0 2[e] 0 49 0
2022–23[50] 10 0 0 0 1 0 1[d] 0 — 12 0
Total 75 0 3 0 3 0 22 0 2 0 105 0
Al-Ahli 2023–24[47] Saudi Pro League 33 0 2 0 — — — 35 0
2024–25[47] 9 0 1 0 — 3[f] 0 1[g] 0 14 0
Total 42 0 3 0 — 3 0 1 0 49 0
Career total 256 0 15 0 5 0 29 0 3 0 308 0
  1. ^ Includes Coupe de France, FA Cup, King Cup
  2. ^ Includes Coupe de la Ligue, EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  5. ^ One appearance in UEFA Super Cup, one appearance in FIFA Club World Cup
  6. ^ Appearances in AFC Champions League Elite
  7. ^ Appearance in Saudi Super Cup

International

[edit]
As of match played 19 November 2024[51]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Senegal 2018 1 0
2019 6 0
2020 2 0
2021 6 0
2022 13 0
2023 4 0
2024 10 0
Total 42 0

Honours

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Reims

Chelsea

Senegal

Individual

Orders

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Édouard Mendy". Saudi Pro League. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  2. ^ "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Édouard Mendy: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Edouard Mendy: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  5. ^ Steinberg, Jacob (26 May 2021). "Édouard Mendy's remarkable road from outcast to Chelsea's No 1". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Edouard MENDY -". www.unfp.org. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Édouard Mendy: 5 things on the Rennes and Senegal goalkeeper". Ligue 1. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Édouard Mendy: 5 things on the Rennes and Senegal goalkeeper". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 31 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Mendy 'had doubts' during unemployment". BBC Sport. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Six Years After Being Without a Club, Edouard Mendy Is Chelsea's GK Savior". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  11. ^ "From being unemployed to joining Chelsea – Mendy's downs and ups". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Ensemble, fêtons nos champions ! – Stade de Reims". Stade de Reims. 7 May 2018. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  13. ^ a b c d "Scouting Report: Édouard Mendy". Breaking The Lines. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Édouard Mendy nouveau gardien du Stade Rennais F.C." (in French). Stade Rennais F.C. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  15. ^ "Chelsea can thank Cech for Mendy arrival and Rennes may pay the price". ESPN. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Chelsea transfer news: Edouard Mendy makes Chelsea move". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Chelsea sign goalkeeper from Rennes for £22m on five-year deal". Sky Sports. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  18. ^ "Chelsea boss Lampard pleased with Mendy debut despite Carabao Cup exit". Goal.com. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  19. ^ "Chelsea 4–0 Crystal Palace". BBC Sport. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Mendy: The 4th African Goalkeeper To Join Premier League". The SportsNation. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Edouard Mendy is the first Chelsea goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in their first three Premier League games since Petr Čech in 2004. They've found a gem.💎". Squawka Football. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ "Čech recommended Mendy above 30–40 others in Chelsea's 1.5-year-long goalkeeper search". SB Nation. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  23. ^ "'It was a bad decision' – Aguero takes 'full responsibility' after embarrassing Panenka penalty miss adds to Man City's poor spot-kick record". Goal.com. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  24. ^ "Edouard Mendy: Chelsea goalkeeper makes Champions League history against Manchester City". Goal.com. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Mendy equals Champions League record after Chelsea keeper shuts out Man City". Goal.com. 29 May 2021.
  26. ^ "Kepa goes from penalty villain to hero". BBC Sport. 11 August 2021.
  27. ^ "Gianluigi Donnarumma wins goalkeeper's Yashin Trophy at Ballon d'Or 2021 awards ceremony". The Independent. 29 November 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022.
  28. ^ a b "Alexia Putellas and Robert Lewandowski crowned The Best". FIFA. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  29. ^ a b "Chelsea 2–1 Palmeiras". BBC Sport. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  30. ^ "Mendy joins Saudi's Al-Ahli from Chelsea". Reuters. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  31. ^ "Djurtus: Lista de convocados do para o amistoso com Belenenses e Estoril" (in Portuguese). Sou Djurtu. 12 November 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  32. ^ a b "Stade de Reims- Edouard Mendy : "Le Sénégal ? Mon choix a toujours été de représenter cette sélection"" (in French). Galsenfoot. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2018. I was contacted by Guinea (Guinea-Bissau), it goes back to last winter (2016). I could have participated in the (2017) African Cup of Nations, but I finally declined this proposal. I was a little rushed to mention this possibility, I went through a personal period a little complicated, I almost lost my father, of Guinean (Bissau-Guinean) origin, who was very sick. This decision was to pleasure him, not really my choice. I have always wanted to represent Senegal, my mother's homeland. In difficult moments, we do not always take the necessary time for reflection and therefore not always the right decisions.
  33. ^ "CAN 2017 – Guinée-Bissau : Une Première liste de 35 joueurs" (in French). Football 365. 19 December 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  34. ^ "Edward Mendy: "The competition between us is healthy"". Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  35. ^ "Afcon 2019: Senegal's Edouard Mendy ruled out of the rest of competition | Goal.com". Goal.com. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  36. ^ "Cisse unveils Senegal squad, hopes for elusive TotalEnergies AFCON title". Confederation of African Football. 25 December 2021.
  37. ^ Ghani, Faras. "AFCON final: Senegal, Egypt goes into extra-time". aljazeera.com. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  38. ^ a b Stevens, Rob (7 February 2022). "Senegal 0–0 Egypt". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  39. ^ At a glance, Football (7 February 2022). "AFCON 2021: Competition's individual award list". sportsnewafrica.com. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  40. ^ "England beat Senegal to book France tie". FIFA. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  41. ^ "Afcon 2023: Senegal and Sadio Mane set for defence of title". BBC Sport Africa. 29 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  42. ^ Nalton, James (19 December 2017). "The Ederson Effect: The Story of a Goal Kick". World Football Index. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  43. ^ "Who is Edouard Mendy? Strengths and weaknesses of Chelsea's new number one". whoscored.com. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  44. ^ "'He has a smile on his face and a great work ethic' – Lampard discusses Mendy". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  45. ^ a b "Cash prizes, real estate, and highest honours as Senegal celebrates Nations Cup heroes". Reuters. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  46. ^ "Edouard Mendy: Internationals". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "É. Mendy: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  48. ^ "Games played by Edouard Mendy in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  49. ^ "Games played by Edouard Mendy in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  50. ^ "Games played by Edouard Mendy in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  51. ^ Édouard Mendy at National-Football-Teams.com Edit this at Wikidata
  52. ^ "Stade Reims – Squad 2017/2018". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  53. ^ McNulty, Phil (29 May 2021). "Manchester City 0–1 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  54. ^ Sterling, Mark (11 August 2021). "Chelsea 1–1 Villarreal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  55. ^ McNulty, Phil (15 May 2021). "Chelsea 0–1 Leicester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  56. ^ McNulty, Phil (14 May 2022). "Chelsea 0–0 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  57. ^ McNulty, Phil (27 February 2022). "Chelsea 0–0 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  58. ^ Rose, Gary (19 July 2019). "Senegal 0–1 Algeria". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  59. ^ "Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season: Edouard Mendy". UEFA. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  60. ^ "UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season". UEFA. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  61. ^ "👏 Edouard Mendy appreciation post. He won the 'Best African International' award at the Ghana Football Awards last night. 🏆🥇". Twitter. Chelsea F.C. 4 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  62. ^ "🎇 GHANA FOOTBALL AWARDS 🎇 Edouard Mendy of Senegal and Chelsea wins the BEST AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL AWARD 🏅👏 #JoySports x #GFAwards21". Joy Sports Ghana. 4 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021 – via Twitter.
  63. ^ "Mane, Cissé, Mendy, Aboubakar take TotalEnergies AFCON individual awards". Confederation of African Football. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  64. ^ @CAF_Online (7 February 2022). "Not your average players Here is the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 best XI #AFCON2021" (Tweet). Retrieved 7 February 2022 – via Twitter.
  65. ^ "Edouard Mendy wins important prize in Saudi Pro League". Saudi World Football. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
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